Bayside leaders said they might be supportive of adding a green market to Bayside, but that the location would be a determining factor.
Currently, there is no official proposal to create a green market in the community, but Bayside leaders said the idea has been floated several times in recent years.
Laura Altimari, who is involved in the promotion of several local businesses, including Bourbon Street, said she had spoken to representatives from GrowNYC and that the nonprofit had expressed interest in Bayside.
GrowNYC, which operates the green market in Douglaston as well as the massive market in Union Square, could not be reached for comment.
“I’d love to see a green market here,” Altimari said. “And I’d like to see the wheels turning by the first of the year. I think it would be great for the community and I don’t think it would take away from local vendors.”
Jerry Iannece, chairman of Community Board 11, said a green area by Bayside’s Long Island Rail Road station had originally been suggested as a locale for a community green market several years ago.
Otherwise, no other locations have been mentioned as sites for a market.
“I think it’s a nice idea, but they’d have to plan for an appropriate location,” Iannece said. “It’s something to discuss and it’s a positive thing. I think they’d want to look to see how the green market is doing in Douglaston.
He said he thought the community would likely be more receptive to a market if it didn’t require closing down a street to allow for it to operate.
Lyle Sclair, the executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District, said he would have to bring up the proposal to the BID’s membership to determine whether the group would support it.
“A lot of things you expect to find in a green market are already here on Bell Boulevard,” he said. “On Bell Boulevard, we have two grocers – Bayside Farms and Bell Boulevard Farms. Both of them provide fresh fruits and vegetables. For artisan breads, Martha’s Country Bakery offers some of that.”
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